Traffic alarm for highways



Dec. 6, 1W32. H. s'. MuLHoLLEN 1,890,092

TRAFFIC ALARM FOR HIGHWAYS Filed .my e. 1951 Tif Patented Dec. 6, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAROLD Smm mom, l' L08 ANGELES, CALIFORNIA TRAITIO LARI FOB BIGHWAYS vApplication iled July 8,

This invention relates to a vehicular highway tratic signal to produce an audible alarm. It is adapted for installation across the highway to signal approach of a vehicle to zones or intersections, such that precaution maybe observed by the driver or those in the vicinity using the highway., Heretofore, visible and/or audible alarms have been used and proposed for this purpose. The alarms involve complex apparatus subject to disorder and having sensitive parts requiring constant supervision and frequent servicing. j.

The rent invention has for object t e provision of a rattle ranging transversely of the road with actuating sections disposed in the surface of the roadway to be operated by vehicles passing thereover.

These objects together with other objects and corresponding accomplishments are obtained by means of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: y

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view in plan of a highway and intersecting railway with two signal units installed on the highway adjacent the railway; Fig. 2 is a perspective view in vertical section through one species of the invention as installed; Figs. 3 to 6 are vertical sections of other species.

Referring more articularly to Fig. 1, a highway is denoted y A and an intersecting railway by B.` It is assumed that the tralic moves forward on the right hand side of the highway. C are si al units ranging from the center line of tg? highway to the edges and d at such distances from the intersection as to give warning of a dangerous crossing in suicient time for the driver of a vehicle to slow down or stop. These units are rattlers.

Referring to Fig. 2, apit 7 is formed in the highway transverse .thereof and installed therein is a rattle box 8 of channel form. The upstanding legs of the channel have shoulders 9. In the box are a series of lids or plates 10 of such width that their edges. may strike the shoulders `9. A fulcrum roc 'er 10 extends from thev bottom of the lid 50 and rests on the. web of channel 8. The

its primaryV ing shoulders, and its bottom has a m1. serial no. 543,311.

height of the rocker is such that the lid may only abut one of the shoulders, it being unstable and constituting a percussor to coact with theanvils formed by shoulders 9. Upon a vehicle wheel passing thereover, the unbalanced lid is rocked by reason of the wheels passing thereover from side to sidev which cause it to vibrate and strike the shoulders with a percussive effect and produce a rattling or drumming noise. Obviously, the upper surface of the lid is substantially iiush with the highway surface and the box 8 and rattler 10 are preferably of metal to produce suflicient noise. The floor plates 10 produce in effect a continuous high- 65 way surface.

Referring to Fig. 3, the box 11 is formed with overhanging shoulders 12 constituting anvils. Ears-13 are provided on the bottom Y of the box. The iioor lids 14 have shoulders 70 l 15 constituting percussion members to coact with 'shoulders 12 in producing percussion and retaining the lids in place. Each of the lids has an ear 16 for pivotal attachment by a pin 17 to a corresponding ear in the box. 75 The operation is obvious.

Referring to Fig. 4, box 18 has overhangfulcrum projection 19. Resting upon fulcrum 19 so as to seesaw is a percussive plate 2O having 80 flanges to cooperate with the anvil shoulders on the box.

Fig. 5 shows a box 21 preferably with a stable cover 22 forming an anvil. The cover has an ear 23 depending therefrom and holes g5 24 spaced from the ears. lA percussor 25 has an elbow 26 at one end and a weight 27 at the other end. The percussor is pivotally mounted on ear 23 so that elbow 26 knormally projects above the cover. A compression spring 9o 28 aids the counterbalance weight 27 in normally maintaining the elbow projected. Wheels of a vehicle engaging the tip of percussor 25 will depress the latter and weight 27 on being restored to normal position will strike the bottom of the box. The weight may also strike the cover on depression of the percussor.

In Fig. 6, an anvil box 29 is provided with a cover 30 having holes 31. In these holes 100 and lid providmg are loosely mounted percussor bolts 32 with heads above the cover. A vehicle wheel passing theerover will disturb the bolts causing them to rattle. Y

Although have shown several species, other variations may be resorted to as found expedient.

What claim is:

1. In combination with a vehicular highway having a pit ranging transversely there'- o,-'a rattle channel frame disposed in said pit and open at the top, a lid plate substantially flush with the highway surface'loosely mounted thereon and rockably supporte coacting shoulders on said lid and frame providing percussion surfaces and limiting the rocking of saidplate whereby a vehicle wheel passing thereover will rock said produce an audible drumming.

' 2. In combination with a vehicular highway havlng a pit ranging transversely thereplate l and fof,z a rattle channel frame disposed in said pit and open at the to a lid plate substantially {iush with the ighway surface ulcrumed intermediate its edges on said frame, coacting shoulders at the edges of said frame percussion surfaces and limiting the rockmg of said plate whereb a vehicle wheel passing thereover'will roc said plate and produce an audible drumming.

3. In combination with a vehicular highway having a pit ranging transversely thereof, a rattle channel frame disposed in said pit and open at the top, said frame having shoulders at the margin of its opening, a lid plate substantially iush with the highway surface and having shoulders at its edges coacting with the first mentioned shoulders to provide percussion surfaces, a fulcrum projection intermediate the bottom of said frame and said plateto support said plate in unstable rocking position inV said frame whereby a vehicle passing thereover will rock said plate and produce an audible drumming.

74. In combination with a vehicular highway, an isolated rattledevice disposed in the highway surface and ranging transversely across a traiiic lane thereof, said rattle comprising an anvil secured in position on said highway and a percussor loosely mounted on said anvil.v

5. In combination with a vehicular highway, an isolated rattle device disposed in the highway surface and ranging transversely across a traiic lane, said rattle comprising anvil means secured in position on said highway, and a. rocker percussor ulcrumed intermediate its side edges on said means and loosely' secured thereto.

"in witness that I claim the foregoing I lifgieghereunto subscribed my name this 29th daiv of June, i931.

HAROLD STEPHEN MULHOLLEN. 

